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A study programme has identified hydraulic lime as one of the many practical solutions for providing resilience in construction as well as the repair process for flood-damaged buildings as well as those at risk to flooding. Headed by a CIRIA consortium, the programme involves government organisations, financial institutions, insurers and the building industry.

Details for CIRIA

Bituchem Asphalt's Natratex surfacing has been selected for the pathways surrounding the Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Designers at Kew had specific criteria for the project. Due to the high number of visitors, the surfacing had to be durable and long lasting. Another important consideration was to create footpaths that complemented the natural surroundings of this prestigious World Heritage Site. Ian Marshall of sub contractors Marshall Surfacing said: "Having worked with Bituchem on a number of projects we have always been impressed. We understand that a project of such prestige would need an attractive yet hardwearing solution. Natratex fitted the bill perfectly."

Details for The Bituchem Group

Engineers at Dudley MDC came up with a novel solution when replacing an unstable 100 year-old brick retaining wall in Stourbridge. The wall, built within a densely packed residential area, formed the lower 2.5-3m of a 7m high embankment separating two streets. Dudley designed a radical masonry-faced piled retaining wall solution, which satisfied strict engineering criteria.

Details for Anchor Retaining Wall Systems Inc

Hall 5, Stand D75 Displayed at Interbuild this year will be the Ancon AMR from Sheffield-based Ancon. The product is a steel reinforcement system that locates in the bed joint to strengthen masonry panels without thickening the wall. The longitudinal steel wires are flattened to less than 3mm to ensure good mortar cover is maintained, even when lapped or used with wall ties. Cross wires are then welded in the same plane. Available in various standard configurations, the Ancon AMR suits a wide range of structural load conditions and is designed to support wall widths from 100mm to 215mm. '0114 275 5224 www.ancon.co.uk

Details for Ancon Building Products

Hall 5 Stand M120 After an absence of more than 10 years, British Gypsum is returning to Interbuild with a stand dedicated to its off-site solutions. A growing element of the new build market, offsite manufacture is claimed to offer a solution to the quality issue sometimes associated with site-build methods, but also introduces a new set of challenges for manufacturers whose panel systems not only have to compete cost-wise with 'traditionally built' panels, but must be extra robust to cope with the stresses and strains of factory to site transportation. '08705 456123 www.british-gypsum.com

Details for British Gypsum

Construction Cosmetics, the brick and masonry restoration specialists, has chosen the EcoChem range of brick care products from Geocel, for a project in Dorset. A new home was blighted by efflorescence all over its walls, and EcoChem provided an alternative to hydrochloric and other acid-based solutions. According to Geocel, Construction Cosmetics made the decision to switch to EcoChem because it is cleaner, safer and greener and because it detected an increasing move towards environmentally-friendly products within the market place. Furthermore, it does the job. Stephen Pinegar, of Construction Cosmetics, said: 'We chose EcoChem because not only does it clean the bricks, but it also inhibits the efflorescence recurring.

Details for Geocel Ltd

Retaining wall specialists, Maccaferri have enabled the construction of apartment blocks on an undulating site in Monaghan town centre, Northern Ireland. Instead of making an 18 metre deep cut into a hillside, Maccaferri proposed an alternative solution in which the bottom part of the wall would be built to a height of nine metres using segmental retaining walling. This would then be capped with a nine metre tall Maccaferri Terramesh reinforced earth system. This solution greatly reduces build time, enabling construction of the apartments to begin much sooner.

Details for Maccaferri

Hard landscaping specialist Charcon has supplied over 400 square metres of its environmentally friendly EcoPave Flag Paving to Wimpey Homes for installation at its new Dunston Staiths development in Gateshead. Developed to optimise the manufacturing processes while minimising the usage of raw materials, Charcon's Eco range has been specifically created with green credentials in mind. Alan Hodgson, Charcon's territory sales manager, said: 'Containing over 76% of recycled materials, EcoPave Flag Paving has been developed to meet the growing need for sustainable hard landscaping. Having seen the development and Wimpey Homes' plans, EcoPave in Black Fleck was ideal for the project.'

Details for Charcon Specialists

A new version of the Stepoc dry-build high-strength walling system has been developed by manufacturers Forticrete. Available in full length, half length and plain end/corner units, the Stepoc 325 basement block is 325mm wide, enabling the fast construction of single skin basement retaining walls up to 4 metres high which can carry 2 x leaves plus insulation and cavity. With its extra width and new internal design, the 325 basement block can accommodate reinforcement bars adjacent to either or both faces if required to provide enhanced strength. Once laid to a half running bond, and with reinforcement in place, the blocks are bonded with liquid concrete which is poured down through the interconnected cavities in the blocks. The design of the blocks creates a cascade effect which ensures a smooth filling of the concrete and forces out any air, creating walls which have both compressive and lateral strength. Built dry, with no mortar joint, the blocks require no special onsite skills or techniques as each unit weighs less than 20kgs, well within the HSE guidelines for a single man repetitive lift.

Details for Forticrete

Clay specialist Terca has developed a new range of bricks for developers. The range incorporates four new bricks designed to allow customers to mix and match on both commercial and residential developments. The variety of tones seen in Sutton Red, Sandwell Red Multi, Coleshill Cream and Bourneville Buff Blend can be used either individually or mixed up together. The bricks are said to offer advanced technical qualities and colour consistency, making them ideal for volume housebuilding, high-rise apartments and office developments. Nigel Linton, Terca's product development director, said: 'Our strong relationships with developers have enabled us to create a perfect palette of colours and textures. The result is a fresh and vibrant selection of bricks that can meet any design or requirement.'

Details for Terca